Hazelwood's 48-yard FG wins it for RGV
Friday July 4, 2008
Bossier City, LA --- Brian Hazelwood connected on a 48-yard field goal with two seconds remaining to snap a four-game losing skid as the Rio Grande Valley Dorados defeated the Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings 46-44 at the Century Tel Center on Friday night.
The Dorados took a 21-18 first-half lead on a pair TDs by Eddie Jackson and another by Jermaine Carpenter. QB Travis Cole connected with Jackson on 23 and 29-yard passes and hooked up with Carpenter on an 11-yard passing play with 41 seconds left in the half to give Rio the lead.
Bossier QB Gary Cooper found Manwell Talbert twice in the first 30 minutes, but the Battle Wings were stymied by three missed PAT and two missed field goals by kicker David Carlton.
Bossier took a 31-28 lead into the final 15 minutes, then gained a 37-28 advantage on a 10-yard pass TD from Cooper to Manwell Talbert. Again, Carlton failed to make the extra point and the Dorados responded with a 28-yard reception by Jackson and a 27-yard rush by Cole to take a 43-37 lead with 1:03 remaining.
The Wings pulled off the improbable, moving down field to score with 12 seconds left on regulation on P.J. Winston’s third TD grab to tie it and Carlton finally connected to give the Wings a 44-43 lead.
Cole led the Dorados to their own 20-yard line on the ensuing drive, setting the stage for Hazelwood’s heroics after a false-start penalty pushed the ball back to the RGV 15.
Rio returns home for “Guy’s Night Out” on Monday, July 14 at 7:30 p.m. The first 1,000 adults through the doors will receive a Dorados jersey, courtesy Fox Rio 2, Q94.5 The Rock Station and San Juan Pharmacy.
Fans will enjoy $1.50 beer all night and halftime will feature a Powder Puff football game between the Dorados Dancers and McAllen Hooters Girls. Alex Del Barrio (Fox 2 Sports) will serve as the honorary team captain for the Dorados Dancers while Mighty Mike Quinn of Q94.5 will serve in the same capacity for the Hooters team.
In addition, all fans who bring a care pack for Operation Interdependence will receive a voucher redeemable for one of the final two Dorados regular season home games of 2008. Items to be donated should fit in a quart-size zip lock bag. Operation Interdependence supports American troops overseas by delivering “goodie bags.”
Dorados single game tickets are available at all TicketMaster outlets, including online (ticketmaster.com" target="_blank">www.ticketmaster.com) and at the Dodge Arena Box Office. Group tickets are available by calling 956-843-7825 and are as low as $12 per game.
